I was cordially invited to join them. I was also told that Ma and Pa would not be coming to Switzerland this time so to see them I would have to go to Holland. Cool by me! Mum comes from a town in the south of Holland called Maastricht. Not the easiest place to get to but a wonderfully pretty town.
So, as so many times before, my journey began from the sedate aerodrome that is Zurich Kloten. This airport just never seems that busy!
In case you are wondering about the absence of S, well he had a work trip to Asia so got off scott free on having to accompany me!! I had booked to fly Swiss but it told me it would be operated by Eidelweiss Air (....every morning you greet me, long and white, clean and bright, your fleet looks happy to take me......). I think I could work in their PR department. It does mean another little model plane which I successfully purchased on the way back. Yippee!
So I was happily ensconced in my light blue leather economy seat with the centre seat empty on my way to Amsterdam. Was a lovely little flight with a cheese roll and a red wine. What more could you ask for....as it is me....quite a lot!
Once at AMS it was time for the Dutch choo choo for the journey to Maastricht. Nice enough journey with one change of trains. Cool thing was is that some of the Dutch trains have wireless internet on board. Phew, I was not cut off from the world, Facebook and Words with Friends!
Mum and Dad met me on the cold platform and I was taken to my hotel, the very glamorous Golden Tulip Hotel Apple Park - I know, it doesn't even sound real. I had found a great rate on Expedia in an "Executive Room" which worked out at under $100 per night - a bargain! The hotel was a bit too industrial looking for me but was comfortable, clean, warm and offered three free to air straight porn channels - again, who could ask for more!
The top two photos are of the actual room. I had a lovely view over the neighbouring football stadium. As much as I would like to pretend the lounge/TV photos were part of my room they were in fact the Executive Lounge on the ground floor. Sadly no evening drinks or canapes to be seen. In fact I did not use it.
After briefly settling in it was off to Ma's cousin (where they were staying) for dinner. I had not been to Holland for some 18 years and was very excited to be told that dinner to night would be traditional local food - frikedele (mystery meat sausage), meat croquette and chips and proper chip mayonnaise. It was as good as I remember it. Oh my!
Certainly no good for my svelte figure but so worth it.
Next day was met with breakfast followed by a visit to downtown Maastricht. It is a beautiful old town with cobblestoned streets (and stoned patrons in some bars!!), wonderful architecture and more shoe shops than even Imelda would know what to do with.
Tonight it was my Uncle's 70th birthday and not being held as a surprise - don't think he could take it!! It was at a local cafe and more family came and we ate, drank and were merry.
Dad and my Uncle Jo whose birthday it was.
Sunday was another family day which was great. Headed to see my Aunt and Uncle in Sittard complete with coffee and cake. In fact the four days were filled with food and wine, the perfect way to spend some time.
Afternoon was at another Uncle's place. They have lived in this apartment forever and although the furniture has changed, it still has the same feel to it that I remember. I could even see my hotel from the window. It also continued that the men sat together and the women sat together....very odd! I did also score a painting done by my grandfather and a ship in a bottle built by my uncle.
That evening was a pretty dodgy Chinese meal in the centre of Maastricht complete with dodgy red wine. Well, you can't win them all!!
My final full day was a trip down memory lane. Ma and Pa took me out to where we used to live before we moved to Australia. The actuall flats we lived in have been demolished but I did get to see the little hill where we used to ride our sled and the school I went to. We then went to the top of Maastricht for a coffee. There is a fort up there but it looked decidedly closed for repairs.
It was time for another meal and the whole of Ma's cousin's family came along. It was an excellent meal. Somehow Ma ordered a fish the size of a whale and managed to eat the whole thing - what a trooper. I even ended up with a sparkler in my dessert as I had admired one at another table. I know, I am a precosious little child but the sparkler was way cool!
That was it! Tuesday was a travelling day and S was arriving a few hours before I got back into Zurich. It was great to go back to Holland and see everyone aqfter so long. I cannot leave it as long this time.
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